What Do I Do Now, Mom?
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 47 

The Plan

I climbed out of my car and went to where Mrs. Snowden was yelling, “Mrs. Snowden, if you can’t talk in a normal tone of voice, then I would ask that you refrain from coming to our farm.  Sarah, you don’t need to endure this woman yelling at you, and I sure don’t want any of the young people hearing the kind of talk that is coming out of her mouth.”

I thought Mrs. Snowden was physically going to attack me.  I heard a voice in the background, “Guys, get some eggs, we’ll show that woman what she’s going to get for talking bad to Mrs. Wallace and Dad.  Get ready.  When I count to three let the eggs fly and make sure you hit the intruder and her vehicle.  Maybe she won’t come back and bother us again.”

I heard Billy’s voice, “One, two, three:  let them fly.”

I felt an egg hit my back and I heard Wylie start to cry, “Un oh, I hit Daddy.  Now he’s going to make me talk about what I did wrong and then I have to write why it was not a good thing to do.  Daddy, I didn’t mean to hit you.  I wanted to hit that nasty woman.”

Talk about a wet hen, Mrs. Snowden was the prime example of one.  She was wiping the egg off her dress and out of her hair.  She sputtered, “I’m going to charge you with assault and battery.”

I was trying not to laugh, “Go ahead, and I’ll charge you with trespassing.  As of now, you are no longer welcome on this or the Latham property.  If you are found to be on either property, we will call the Sheriff’s office.  Now please leave before the boys waste any more eggs.”

Wylie yelled, “You heard what Daddy said.  He said leave!”

Mrs. Snowden shouted some words that I would rather the boys had not heard, but the damage was already done.  Mrs. Snowden climbed into her car and peeled out of the driveway.  She flipped the bird at us as she left, and I looked at Sarah, “Thank goodness we got the girls away from her, before she corrupted them.  Where are the girls, anyway?”

“When we were at the yard goods store, we found out that the Four H girls were offering a free sewing lesson for prospective members, so I left the girls at the store.  It was a good thing that I came home when I did, because that woman was here ranting at Randy and Jake.  I need to go pick up the girls.  I hope that woman doesn’t come back.  She’s downright vicious.”

Sarah left and Wylie came to me and hugged me, “Daddy, I didn’t mean to hit you with the egg.  You aren’t going to spank me are you?”

I picked Wylie up, “No, Son, I’m not going to spank you, but you need to practice your throwing, so you can hit the target, next time.  I wouldn’t practice with eggs though because that’s a waste of money.  I need to go change clothes, so I don’t smell like eggs.”

Wylie followed me to the bathroom, “Daddy, I still don’t understand what happened at the Air Force base, today.  Does that mean you aren’t going to really be my Daddy, like Dad Randy is Billy and Bobby’s Daddy?”

“Wylie, Dad Randy and I are going to be your dads.  You’re just not going to change your last names.”

“But why can’t my name be Wylie Adler?”

“Wylie, when you’re older, you will understand why we didn’t change your name to Wylie Adler.  Besides, we’re going to love you just as much, whether your name is Adler or Latham.  A name is just some letters put together.  Let’s go make sure the other guys are okay.”

As we were walking through the kitchen, I looked to see what we were having for dinner.  Someone had fixed a pork roast with sauerkraut, and it looked as if we were having mashed potatoes and homemade applesauce.  As I was finishing peeking, Wade came in and started to scold me, “Dad, you need to spray the apple trees so the apples aren’t so wormy.  It took me forever to find enough apples to make the applesauce.  I have a question for you.”

I had no idea what the question might be, “What’s bothering you, son?”

“When we were at the base today, they said we would be getting some money because our father was a veteran.  Does that mean we get to spend the money?”

“Nope, that means you put it into your college account.  Dad Randy and I will make sure that you have all the money you need.  If you start spending everything that you get, you won’t have money to buy special things.”

“Dad, I’m pretty stupid  so I don’t think there is any chance that I’ll ever go to college.”

“Son, I don’t think that you’re the least bit stupid.  When school starts this fall, I expect you to apply yourself.  I’m sure that you are as intelligent as Witt.  In fact, I think all five of you guys will be as good or better students than Witt is, and that‘s saying a lot.”

We were getting ready to eat when Tim arrived with Dr. Lake, “Sorry we’re late, but Dr. Lake had a late class.  He has some things to show you and a proposal for you to consider.  He’ll explain after dinner.”

Wade got up and set another place around the table which was getting rather cramped.  When everyone was seated, I looked at Billy, “Master William, would you be so kind as to say the prayer of blessing.”

After Billy said the prayer, Wendy asked, “Why did you say a prayer thanking God for giving us this food?  He didn’t have anything to do with it.  Mrs. Snowden says there isn’t such a person as God.”

Talk about putting a kibosh to a conversation, that’s what Wendy did.

Dr. Lake spoke up, “Young lady, Mrs. Snowden is wrong.  There is a God, or we wouldn’t be here to enjoy this fine meal.  There is plenty for us to eat, if we take only what we can eat and not take more than we can eat.”

Sarah nodded in agreement, “There is lots of food.  Take what you know you can eat, and there will be some left if you’re still hungry.  Remember, we have a rule at this house that if you don’t eat everything that you take, then you do the dishes.”

Wade grinned, “Since we guys cooked tonight, you girls get to do the dishes.”

Wanda started to complain, “Why do we have to do the dishes when you made such a big mess.”

Witt jumped into the conversation, “You girls have been spoiled by the short time you spent with the Snowdens.  If you’re going to be part of the family, then you need to help with the work.  Since you were gone to your sewing lessons, the least you can do is the dishes.  It's not like our old house, you have the dishwasher to do most of the dishes, so all you have to do is the pots and pans.”

As the young people were clearing the table, Tim spoke, “I asked Dr. Lake here, because he came up with a design for Witt’s house and he has a proposal for you to consider.”

Witt was all ears, “What’s his proposal?”

Dr. Lake went and got a package of poster like board, “I’m teaching a graduate level course on renovation design, this summer.  I explained the situation to the students as best I could.  I asked them to come up with a design for the interior of  Witt’s house, based on my description.  I would like to have them come and actually see the property so they can make changes on the designs they submitted.  With your permission, I would like to have them come see the property tomorrow afternoon.”

I looked at Witt, “Witt, I think it would be great to have some outside help with fixing your house the way you and the Wallaces and your sisters might like.”

Sarah added, “That’s assuming that we get to be the girls’ foster parents.”

Dr. Lake showed the plans that his student’s had drawn not having seen the house.  Witt looked at the plans, “Dr. Lake, this is very interesting, but the designs all look about the same.  There is no accommodations for what the owners might want.  These all look as if they came out of a textbook.”

Dr. Lake grinned, “That’s very astute, Witt.  That’s why I would like to bring the class here tomorrow afternoon to see the actual property, so they know exactly what they are working with.  Randy, have you made the final decision on where the plumbing and fixtures will be going?”

“No sir, we just finished pulling out the old plumbing this afternoon.  We can’t really proceed much further until we see what the rest of the house will look like.”

Wanda had been listening, “Is there any way that each of the bedrooms could have their own bathroom?”

Dr. Lake shook his head, no, “My, young lady, that’s not even feasible given the size of the house.  If each bedroom had a bathroom, there wouldn’t be room to move around in the bedrooms.  How many bathrooms did you have before?”

Wally answered, “We had one bathroom for twelve people and we guys never could get to use it, because the girls were always in there.  We had to use the outside toilet.”

Dr. Lake chuckled, “Mrs. Wallace, what would you like the bathroom situation to be like in the house, if you were to move there?”

“I would like two bathrooms.  One for my husband and me and another one for the rest of the people.  I would also like a toilet on the first floor, so visitors wouldn’t have to go upstairs to use the bathroom.”

Dr. Lake grinned, “With your permission, I would like to bring my class here tomorrow afternoon, so they can actually see what they are working with.  If you buy the things we need, we could spend all day Saturday renovating the inside of the house, except for the plumbing.  Mr. Tailor and Mr. Wallace could complete the plumbing with their assistants the following week.  You could have an open house to show off what you were able to do with an old house.  In fact, we could probably get the house sided if you let the company advertise their work during the open house.”

I laughed, “Dr. Lake, where were you when I was remodeling this house.  It took me four years to complete it.  Of course, there wasn’t any sense of urgency when I was doing it.  This situation is a little different.   I’ll make it a point for us to be here when you bring your class, tomorrow.”

Billy giggled, “Dad Hank, we could have a pig roast when we have the open house and offer everyone a roast pork sandwich.  People always go where there is free food.”

“Billy, we’re not planning to sell Witt’s house.”

Billy nodded, “No, but the more people who attend means that Daddy and Mr. Wallace might get some more jobs when the people see their work.  We could have an open house here at the same time to show off what they were able to do here with the big guys' help.”

Dr. Lake grinned, “Billy, I like your style.  You’re a real entrepreneur.  The two houses would be so different that they would catch people’s attention.  People will, indeed, always go where there is free food offered, as you suggest.”

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a car.  The boys went to see who it was.  Wade returned with Mrs. Chamberlain.  She looked at Dr. Lake, “I’m surprised to see you here, Larry.  You don’t usually stray this far from the university or your house.”

Dr. Lake laughed, “Gwen, honey, there are a lot of things you don’t know about me.  What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

“I came to tell Mr. and Mrs. Wallace that they have been approved to be the foster parents of the four Latham daughters.  There is only one question to be answered.  How are they going to be able to afford to keep the four girls, financially?”

I answered before anyone else could, “Mr. Wallace is going to be working for Randy, as a plumber, until he gets his certification.  Mrs. Wallace is going to be teaching preschool part time, and child sitting the rest of the time, until we get home.”

Mrs. Chamberlain looked around, “The Wallace’s are going to be very cramped in the trailer if they have the four girls living with them.”

Will answered, “That’s why Dr. Lake is here.  We are trying to get our house remodeled as expeditiously as possible, so the Wallaces can move into it.  If the twelve of us could live there, six people can certainly live there very comfortable, once the plumbing is updated.”

Mrs. Chamberlain scowled, “I’ll say this for you; you aren’t wasting any time.  Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, if you would sign these papers, you will be the foster parents for the four Latham girls.”

As the Wallaces were signing the papers, another car drove into the driveway.  Rob Snowden exited the car.  When he saw Gwen, he asked, “I guess this means that the Latham girls are not going to be our foster daughters.”

Mrs. Chamberlain nodded, “Rob, I’m so sorry this did not work out for you and your wife.  Your wife was in the office this morning before I arrived complaining that Hank was using Mr. Latham’s money for his own purposes.  I checked this afternoon and found out that the money including the memorial money had been put in the ten children’s accounts.”

Mrs. Chamberlain continued, “I recommend that Mr. Adler continue to be the guardian of all of the Latham children until the dust settles.  He and the Wallaces can work on when to make the transfer of the funds to where the Wallace’s are the guardians of the girls' funds.”

“Liz, wasn’t ready to become a foster mother.  Once she found out that the girls had received some money, she went bonkers and she started hitting the bottle again.  Thank you for taking the girls out of our jurisdiction.  There is no telling what she might have done if they were to continue to live with us, and Hank were to control the funds.  What happened when she was here this afternoon?  It must of have been pretty bad, because she was drunk when I got home and was muttering, I’ll get even with those little brats.  I’ll get me some buckets of cow manure and put their faces into it.”

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of police sirens nearby.

To be continued...

 Editor's Notes:  Is this a cliffhanger?  I definitely sense the edge of a cliff, approaching. 

What, per chance, would bring the police into the vicinity?  Could it be the bitch on wheels, running a foul of the law? Mrs. Snowdung is a real piece of work, isn't she?

I am not a very big fan of hers, as you might have noticed.

I hope it won't be long before we see another chapter of this wonderful story.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher 

Posted: 01/14/11